Pic: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Feb 27: Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd has successfullt completed two years of operations in Mangaluru, informed Tajindar Singh, chief operating officer of Antony Waste Handling Cell.
Addressing a press conference at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on Monday February 27, he said, "Antony Waste Handling Cell commenced its operations in the city in 2015 after signing a 7-year contract with Mangaluru City Corporation for comprehensive sanitation and waste handling services in the city. Nearly 180 tons of solid waste in the municipal limits was being collected in the city. We started with lots of hurdles, but gradually people came to know how to manage and segregate the waste. It is good that people accepted our services.
"Earlier, waste collection was done using conventional trucks from open dumping spots scattered all over the city. We were able to achieve complete coverage of the MCC limits which has resulted in daily pick-up of around 300 tons of muncipal solid waste. We go on door-to-door collection of garbage, with infusion of special purpose vehicles and trained personnel, thereby introducing proffessional garbage management systems," he added.
"We collect garbage from all the 60 wards of the MCC daily, door-to-door from households, and transport it to the landfill site. We also collect bulk waste from all the major generators of garbage like hotels, markets and malls. We have a complaint redressal cell, service for pick-up of green waste, city-wide information-education-communication and other awareness activities to encourage citizens to segregate waste at source," he informed.
He also said that the firm undertakes sweeping of all main roads and mechanised sweeping of roads in the south zone, cleaning and maintaining of beaches in the north zone, stormwater drain cleaning before and during monsoon, and sanitation work of open spaces and MCC-maintained buildings.
When asked about the recent protest by civic workers over salary, Tajinder Singh said, "It happens. We face such issues when we switch from one phase to another. It is a part and parcel of the job. MCC is short of funds right now, but once it stablises it will get back to normalcy."
Anti-Pollution Drive (APD) founder Rehman said, "We conduct activities, roadshows and workshops to create awareness among people on segregating waste. We also display videos in malls and other places throughout the city. We are also targeting all the 60 wards to sensitize people on the need for segregating and managing the waste.